Matthew 12:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Suppressing the jealousy of those who opposed him, he sought not to proclaim himself but endeavored to heal the afflicted through every means available.

The term "Επετιμησεν" signifies not only a prohibition but also an authoritative command. Observe how He tends to the ailing while simultaneously addressing the jealousy of the Jewish leaders by instructing that His healings be kept silent. This led to ongoing resentment towards Him among the Jews. His directive stems from His patient forbearance, as He preferred to conceal His splendor rather than provoke them further into turmoil. The evangelist references the prophet who previously anticipated such patience and indignation, continuing with the account.

The Lord instructed those He healed to remain quiet. However, was His command truly about suppressing information regarding the healing? Certainly not. The restoration of health, regardless of who receives it, inherently serves as a testimony. By requesting confidentiality, He sidesteps the temptation of seeking personal glory while still permitting recognition of His identity. This is because the call for silence pertains to the matters that are to be kept undisclosed.

One requirement He placed upon those He healed was a directive not to reveal His identity. He prohibited them from making Him known. In every aspect, He, the Messiah foretold by our ancestors through the ages, did not manifest as the Jews anticipated. He did not come as a powerful conqueror or a sovereign ruler, but rather in the manner described by the prophets of antiquity, notably the remarkable Isaiah, often regarded as the evangelist of the Old Testament.

A large crowd followed Him to the sea from various places, including Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, the regions across the Jordan, as well as Tyre and Sidon. They all sought Him like children yearning for their father, teacher, and healer. Those afflicted by ailments even threw themselves at Him to make contact (Mark 3:10). Upon reaching the shore, the threat of being overwhelmed by the pressing multitude of the sick necessitated that the Lord use a boat to teach the people from a safer distance. One approach He adopted, seemingly to prevent any hostile intentions from the crowd toward His adversaries and to dismiss any hint of suspicion regarding His motives, was to instruct those He healed not to disclose in public that they recognized Him as the Son of God.

The Gospel of Matthew does not specify the location where Jesus withdrew from the deadly intentions of the Pharisees. Instead, it focuses on an important aspect of Jesus’ ministry: even while facing persecution, He heals the sick but instructs them not to reveal His identity or the miracles He performs. This reflects the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, which is cited from the Hebrew text with some variations from Isaiah 42:1-4. The Septuagint version adds the phrases “My offspring, my chosen” regarding Jacob and Israel, which indicates their interpretation of this prophecy as concerning the nation of Israel rather than the Messiah.

He instructed those who had been healed not to reveal His identity. In this demonstration of Jesus' humility, His lowliness, and the lack of pride within Him, the Evangelist Matthew perceives a fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Isaiah regarding the nature of the anticipated Messiah (Isaiah 42:1-4).

He instructed them not to disclose their experiences, as He intended to avoid provoking the hostility of His adversaries any further, a hostility that had already been made evident (Matt. 12:14). This directive to keep His miraculous works a secret aligned with God's purpose in the unfolding narrative of salvation history. In doing so, the prophecy concerning the Messiah was realized in Christ, who came in the lowly guise of a servant (Phlp. 2:7), characterized by gentleness and compassion, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled (cf. note to Mt. 1:22).

When Jesus Christ became aware of the schemes devised by His adversaries, He chose to retreat rather than risk His life prematurely, traveling to the Lake of Galilee. A great multitude gathered around Him, drawn by the reports of His miraculous works, which had captivated not just the residents of Jerusalem, Judea, and Galilee, but also those from Idumea, the regions across the Jordan, and the communities near Tyre and Sidon. They surrounded Him as their greatest Benefactor and Healer, with the sick pressing toward Him, eager to be healed by His touch. Those afflicted by unclean spirits fell before Him, proclaiming, "Thou art the Son of God," yet the Lord restrained them from declaring His identity.